With long, white-sand beaches and beautifully curved waves, Costa Rica is a great place to surf. Sunset Reef Hotel is located in Malpais, a small Pacific beach town on the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula, next to the pristine Cabo Blanco Nature Preserve.
Surfing is excellent all year round, although the biggest swells come in the "green season" from May to December. Due mainly to its sub-surface geography, Malpais and its neighboring beaches catch most swells that come from either the north or the south. For this reason the Malpais waves are known for their consistency. No wonder this town has been the location of several surfing contests, including some of international stature.
Here is a sampling of the more popular spots between Sunset Reef Hotel and the end of Malpais.

COSTA RICA'S "TEAHUPO" - At the southern end of Malpais, directly in front of Sunset Reef Hotel, is what surfer's familiar with Tahiti's famous wave have baptized Costa Rica's "Teahupo" (locals call it Helena's after the builder of the hotel). The break requires a south-to-southwest swell, and low to mid-tide is essential. This fast, steep, left barrel is only for the experienced surfer. The rest of us can take in the view from the hammocks at the hotel. It breaks primarily from May through October.
Booties will help you painlessly navigate the Reef's sharp rocks.

MAR AZUL-About a half mile north is another reef break called "Mar Azul" or Blue Ocean. This spot, also a left ride, will break on the same swell direction as Helena's. This wave does not barrel much and is fairly slow, making it a preferred spot for long-boarders. Surfing is best here at high tide.

PLAYA CARMEN-Heading north, you have to stop and try Playa Carmen. You can surf this beach break on any tide, but a high tide is best. The wave is really fun and highly recommended for all surfers from beginner to expert. The wave is slow and long. If you fall, it's all sandy bottom.
Playa Carmen is located at the main intersection in town and right in front of the legendary Tropicana Bar. A nearby surf shop rents and sells boards for every taste and has accessories like surf wax, leashes, board-bags, fins, and deck pads. Dings can be repaired and surf lessons are available.

PLAYA SANTA TERESA - If the tide is not breaking your way, you might want to head further north about two miles to Playa Santa Teresa. A local can direct you to La Lora. Here the beach break is very similar to Playa Carmen, but pickier with more hollow barrels. It works better on a low tide, and the wave is usually faster and steeper than Playa Carmen.
Santa Theresa has a longer beach and, with a good swell, many different spots start to peak including Brunnelas, the Dry Trees, and Roca Mar. Here the wave is stronger and not recommended for the beginner. The Santa Teresa beach breaks can handle up to double or more overhead waves under a heavy swell although only a few surfers have the strength (or insanity) to paddle out under such imposing conditions. That's when you want to try out Malpais where the point breaks create perfect line-ups and channels to paddle out.

SUCK ROCK - "Suck Rock" is at the northern end of Malpais in front of Roca Mar. This break works on a big swell from any direction. This wave is truly a playground for the regular-footed, experienced surfer. Long, right rides are characteristic of this spot.

FURTHER NORTH - If you feel like exploring further, Playa Hermosa, Manzanillo, and Nosara are an hour north in the dry season when you can drive along the beach. Further north (up to 6 hours) are Roca Bruja "Witch´s Rock", Playa Negra, Avellanas, Tamarindo and the very popular Playa Grande. Because of the small size of the territory and the large variety of surf locations, it is very easy to surf excellent waves all year long.